Zach Sobiech's 'Clouds' to be part of new two-disc set

Zach Sobiech, left, plays guitar as Samantha "Sammy" Brown sings a song they wrote and recorded at the studio called School of Music & Mayhem run by Joe Schertz, not pictured. (Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin)

It's been almost a year since Zach Sobiech became an Internet sensation shortly before dying of a rare form of bone cancer.

But Sobiech, the Lakeland teenager who wrote "Clouds," continues to touch people with his story and his music.

Now, fans will have a chance to own a collection of music and videos from Sobiech and his band, A Firm Handshake.

"Fix Me Up: Deluxe Edition," a two-disc CD/DVD set, will be released May 6. Pre-orders are being taken on Amazon.com for $12.54.

In fall 2012, Sobiech was suffering from terminal osteosarcoma, when he wrote and performed "Clouds" as a farewell to family and friends. It has received more than 10 million hits on YouTube.

Days after his death on May 20, "Clouds" became the No. 1 rock song in the country, according to Billboard magazine. It also reached No. 1 on iTunes -- and stayed at the top of the charts for four days.

Proceeds from the sale of the song and YouTube views are donated to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund through the Children's Cancer Research Fund. Scott Herold, CEO and founder of Rock the Cause, which released Sobiech's album, said the fund should top $1 million by the time "Fix Me Up: Deluxe Edition" is released.

"There are 7 billion people on the planet, and many of those people are still figuring out ways to hear Zach's music and hear his story," he said.

Advertisement

"When you look at the scope of the human race, we've only touched a small portion of it with his story. This story resonates with everyone. If we can keep rediscovering ways to tell Zach's story and inspiring people with it, we'll continue to build money for his fund."

"Fix Me Up: Deluxe Edition" includes a new acoustic version of "Clouds" and a track of the largest "Clouds" choir at the Mall of America, Herold said. It also features "How to Go to Confession," a new single by Sobiech's longtime friend and songwriting partner, Sammy Brown. The DVD includes five videos.

The set will sell for $12.99 in stores such as Best Buy, Walmart and Barnes & Noble starting May 6. The release date coincides with the publication of "Fly a Little Higher," Laura Sobiech's inspirational book about her son, which is being published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian bookseller.